The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 2 · Chapter 232

Joseph's money box and worries about thieves. The Infant's good advice to Joseph. 15 June 1844

01] Joseph did not have a chest in which to keep the large amount of money.

02] So he immediately ordered his servants to go to the city and buy a chest, regardless of the cost!

03] And the servants went and in the course of two hours, brought a rather beautiful chest made of cedar, which had cost ten pounds of silver.

04] This chest was brought into Joseph's bedchamber, and his sons placed the heavy and large quantity of money into this strong and beautiful chest.

05] After the money was put away in this manner, Joseph spoke:

06] "Seen from the earthly point of view, this is the first time in my whole life that I am rich;

07] for I have never seen so much money, let alone possessed so much of it!

08] Until now my house had no worries about thieves or robbers;

09] however, from now on we will not have enough eyes or time to protect this money from thieves and robbers!"

10] But Jonathan said: "Brother, do not worry about it! 11] I know for certain whom the thieves and robbers seek out. 12] Look, they only seek out those who are stingy and mean!

13] You are not like that, – therefore you can remain calm; for everyone anyway gets three times more than he demands from you!

14] Thus, I think, you will have to deal with a lot of beggars, but definitely not with thieves and robbers!"

15] Here even Mary came over and spoke to Joseph:

16] "Listen, dear father, you know that we received a large amount of gold from the three wise men from Persia, when we were in the town of our father David;

17] and look, we do not have anything left of this gold, not even the size of a grain of sand, although we were not robbed of it!

18] So I believe that the same will happen again: before a year is up, there will be nothing left, and this without any encounters with thieves and robbers.

19] So just be very calm! – For in a house, in which the Lord dwells, gold has no standing, and besides, the robbers and thieves will not want to have dealings with the house of the Lord!

20] For they know as well as you and me, that it would be ominous to misappropriate treasures that are, as it were, in God's chest."

21] As Mary finished speaking, the Infant also came over and spoke:

22] "Faithful Joseph! You should not look so fearfully at that chest, in which My brothers have put the money!

23] If you look so frightened, I could think that you were unwell.

24] And see, I do not want you to be unwell!

25] This money will not burden you for long. Now buy a lot of flour and other foodstuff and some clothes and distribute the rest of the money,

26] and the chest will soon be empty again!" – These childlike words had such a soothing effect on Joseph that he was promptly in very good spirits.